A substance toxic to guinea pigs in the blood of infants with “intestinal intoxication.”

Abstract

Cases of so-called “intestinal intoxication” can be divided into two groups. In the first group there is a history of preceding nutritional disturbance with diarrhea of days or weeks duration. The onset of toxic symptoms is often gradual. The infants are greatly wasted and the tissues show signs of water loss. The blood concentration may be slightly increased but is often normal. The mental state is best described as somnolent. Pronounced nervous symptoms are absent.

In the second group the onset is usually sudden and preceding nutritional disturbances are slight or may not occur at all. Wasting is slight. Diarrhea is usually not severe and in many cases does not occur. One of the striking features of this group is the presence of pronounced nervous symptoms. Convulsions are common and the patient is in deep coma with marked involuntary movements and muscular twitchings. The blood of these infants is much concentrated. The clinical picture, the complete anuria and the high non-protein nitrogen of the blood in these cases strongly suggest a relationship to uremia. The work of Foster on uremia suggested the possibility that the blood of infants with this severe type of intoxication might show the presence of a toxic substance.

8 to 15 C.C. of blood serum or citrated plasma were dialyzed through collodion against from 50 to I00 C.C. of water for 12 to 24 hours. The dialysate was rapidly concentrated in a current of air at a temperature below 40° to a volume of 3 to 5 C.C. and injected into the peritoneal cavity of guinea pigs.

There were 13 experiments. In 6 animals there were no symptoms of consequence. Seven of the animals showed distinct symptoms. Two died within two hours.